What is the Crimson Sky in Shogun?

Crimson Sky in Shogun was one of the main strategies in Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s arsenal to eliminate his enemy Lord Ishido.

FX special Shogun is known to be one of the biggest and most famous series and has received huge praise from fans around the world. The series is based on the novel written by James Clavell back in 1975, which showcases stories inspired by historical Japanese figures and personalities who had a huge influence in Japan.

The show mainly revolves around two important characters, with one being John Blackthorne, an English sailor and a pilot who was traveling the seas to find the great land of Japan for his trade. On the other hand, we have lord Yoshii Toranaga, who is known to be the daimyo or the Lord of the Kanto region in Japan. The series shows how the two characters cross paths before John assists Toranaga in becoming the shogun of the Land.

Read More: Did Toranaga become Shogun

What is the Crimson Sky in Shogun?

While many confuse Crimson Sky with the episode name in the television drama Shogun, originally, the term Crimson Sky was coined by Lord Toranaga as a tactic to destroy his enemy Lord Ishido. Before the events of episode six, Lord Toranaga was shown in a space where he believed that he had the luxury to solve all his disputes without bloodshed. Seeing Lord Ishido and Lady Ochiba's ruthless actions in episode 6, Toranaga was left with no choice but to act in a manner of war.

The idea behind the Crimson Sky is known to be a single, violent attack on Osaka to take down the council members and appoint Lord Toranaga as the sole regent of Japan. The sole purpose of Crimson Sky was to reduce the bloodshed to a bare minimum, as compared to the onslaught following an all-out war. Toranaga, while talking to Mariko, claimed that Ochiba is going to be fighting with "no honor," after Lord Sugiyama’s assassination, making her future movies completely unpredictable. This leaves him no choice but to act as if he is in a state of war and overpower Ochiba’s power and reign.

What happens in the Crimson Sky episode of Shogun?

Episode nine of Shogun titled “Crimson Sky” is directed around the plans that Toranaga laid out to gain a high position on his opponents and bring him close to an inevitable victory. The episode displays Lady Mariko’s service to Lord Toranaga in freeing the hostages (Toranaga’s family, herself, and John Blackthorne) from Ishido and Ochiba’s clutches with any means of war. Even after various desperate measures (to the point where she had to fight against other soldiers at the gates to make her way), Mariko failed to get anyone out of Ishido’s region.

As a result of her failure, she attempted seppuku but was stopped by Ishido who granted them leave from the region. While everyone rejoiced at the news, the episode showed a gang of ninja assassins assigned by Ishido to kill Mariko and the others. By the end of the episode, Mariko dies by blocking a doorway that was laced with explosives to save others. This movement from Mariko was a part of Toranaga’s Crimson Sky, revealed later in the series, stating that Mariko’s death reduced the strength under Ishido’s command, enough to kill him, take control, and free his people at the hands of Ochiba and Ishodi without waging a war.